The Penny-Pinchers Guide to Amusement Parks

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Den said:

When I'm on vacation, I wanna have a good time...

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Exactly. At what point is a vacation no longer a 'vacation' because you end up stressing over details like packing food and getting to and from your car.

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Canadas Coaster Drew said:

If you're living on such a tight budget that spending an extra $20 getting souvenirs actually at the park or eating park food is going to stretch your wallet, then what are you doing at an amusement park anyways?

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I just didn't have the balls to say it :)

That's my logic exactly, but I do understand there are exceptions and COASTINGTHRU stated one of those perfectly. But arguing the flip side of that same thing, you're not exactly talking a vacation situation. That sounds more like a day at the park and a day at the local park that you visit multiple times isn't exactly the same as a vacation situation (as seemed implied by the linked article)

What I don't like which seems to be implied here is that if I don't waste a bunch of money on my vacation, I'm not having fun. So not true. I have been on beach vacations where I didn't really have much money to do else besides enjoy the beach and my room (and a little drinky drinky). Did I have a good time? Certainly. Will it enhance my vacation to buy some crappy souvenirs and eat out every night. Not likely.

As I age, I actually prefer the food and atmosphere more than the coasters. I went to PKI in July and it was packed. This did not stop me from enjoying La Rosa's for breakfast, Skyline for lunch, Tenderloins and potatoes for 2nd lunch...etc! I had a great day at the park and dropped a big old wad of cash, only hit a few coasters and flats! I'm the type of person that cannot enjoy a park on the cheap.

In fact, I often argue with my wife that these parks are too cheap. The one thing that everybody seems to hate are the lines. I've always said they should jack the prices up until the lines are more tolerable. They could get by with less staffing and concentrate on quality versus quantity. I'm sure the parks know how to maximize their profits better than me though....

absolutely Gonch! and thats why in my other post, i said when i travel, i make sure i have the money to get more out of it! was just that blanket statement of not belonging in a park with extra $ that got under my skin :)

I'm more on the frugal side of this conversation. Would I like to spend lots of money and buy souveniers and food and such when I'm at a park, sure I would. But just because I don't get to do that sometimes doesn't mean I didn't have a great time.

I rarely ever buy souveniers from parks anymore. I don't have anything from 3 of the last 4 new parks I've been to. (I did buy from HW just because they are so reasonable there) If you have the money to do everything you want then Great!, but because some of us don't, doesn't mean our time was wasted or not a vacation.

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freakylick said:
So do people who have money...and people who don't care about living their life in the red...But not everyone can "let go and have fun".

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Sucks to be them, I guess!

Some people think it's a hassle to do the things to save some money, and others don't. What's the big deal? I can find amusement park food at any of a number of local fairs/festivals/etc., it isn't a big deal and not worth it to me. Others think it is, fine. I've been in the position when I couldn't afford much--I still had a good time. Now, a little extra money wouldn't kill me(maybe it would, I still hate to waste money), but I don't find it a problem saving money.

So if you don't like to save money at a park, don't. But also don't belittle the people who have a different take on life than you.

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Dragster Freak said:
What I don't like which seems to be implied here is that if I don't waste a bunch of money on my vacation, I'm not having fun. So not true.

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Oh, I'll agree with that 100%.

There are too many variables (what you enjoy, what your trip consists of, where you're going, etc.) to make broad generalizations like that. But the article focuses to a degree on a Disney Vacation. Thus, I'm basing my discussion on the "big theme park trip vacation scenario" - and if you want a true getaway (whether to a resort or planning a park hopping trek of a certain geographic area) you can nickle and dime yourself out of the very fun you're after or you can just go for it. In most cases, I think a majority would find the latter more rewarding in the end.

What I find more odd is the implication that people who choose to take an approach similar to mine are going in debt to go on vacation. I don't travel on credit, I don't give up anything I need to get the money together to make a trip. I use 'disposible' income for enjoyment. My chosen path to enjoyment is the amusement park trip. I enjoy both the travel and the parks.

To me (and this ties in with Canadas Coaster Drew's "whay are you at the park?" comment) if you have to nickle and dime your way to a park trip, then you're the one who is truly going "in the red" to make it happen.

But again, the variable are too wide and varied to nail it that easily. Someone like BeccaRaptor enjoys camping and taking a break at the car. Dragster Freak isn't big on souvenirs nor eating out. But those are choices stated in a way that says to me, "Even if I had the money, I still wouldn't do anything beyond what I do now." There's a big difference between making decisions that are cheaper financially because they are preferences vs making them because they are financial compromises.

Do what you like. No one is faulting that. Going out of your way and making compromises to shave a few bucks off the bill is the issue here to me.

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Jeff said:Sucks to be them, I guess!

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You win. That's my laugh of the day.

I agrees with ya, Gonch. I was just saying that I have been on both ends of the spectrum, with plenty of money to spend and very little to spend. Either way, I will enjoy myself. And yes, I occassionally like to get souvenirs. Mostly, I spend for the on-ride photos as I am building a collection.

Jeff,I also don't think you can clearly say that anyone who tries to be cheap at an amusement park misses the point. What point? That I can't enjoy myself without blowing all my loot? Sometimes, it's nice to come back from a vacation with money in hand. *** Edited 8/13/2004 8:40:33 PM UTC by Dragster Freak***

Good one Jeff! LOL!

I am all for deals and coupons also, if I intend on really using them You should not let your quest for bargains overpower your whole trip though.

I see nothing wrong with using a coupon, but I would not drive around all day looking for one when I could be having fun.

Forget spontaneity???? Heck no. Who's she kidding?

-Tina

<------who just likes bringing her cooler for fun.

*** Edited 8/13/2004 8:49:57 PM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***

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Dragster Freak said:

Jeff,I also don't think you can clearly say that anyone who tries to be cheap at an amusement park misses the point. What point? That I can't enjoy myself without blowing all my loot? Sometimes, it's nice to come back from a vacation with money in hand. *** Edited 8/13/2004 8:40:33 PM UTC by Dragster Freak***

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Well maybe Jeff cant say it, but I sure can! If you are spending the entire day worrying about nickels and dimes, it's really going to take you out of the moments that amusement parks are supposed to bring. That's not to say that you can make rational economic decisions. I'll admitt, I'm a little loose with my cash when I go on vacations, but I never buy more than I can afford. Even when my bankroll was still in "nursery school", I found ways to spend it judiciously.

And I'd be willing to bet that those who seem to be "loose" with their money would be the ones who would most profess getting "value" from their trips. Sure I could opt out of stay @ $100-$150 a night Hilton Family hotels for some fleabag place, but that extra $50-$75 doesnt mean as much to be as the product I receive in return. Sure, my pockets may be heavier, but so would be my mood (a bad thing!).

I'm rambling now, but suffice to say that I believe it's not worth getting bent out of shape over park trips. Sure, do some research before heading out (to me, that is part of the fun). Give yourself a budget and stick to it. But dont scrimp on important such just to save a buck or two. You can always make more money....

lata, jeremy

What Jeremy said. I guess I'm willing to admit that vacationing and going to amusement parks is not something low-income folks can do all of the time. That much I'll agree with.

But the notion that said travel will bankrupt everyone is nonsense. Furthermore, money is about the last thing on my mind when I'm out "blowing my wad" on the park experience. Who cares, it's just money, I have some extra, and I can't take it with me when I'm food for worms.

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Canadas Coaster Drew said:

...then what are you doing at an amusement park anyways?

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I'll admit that I tried to reword that sentence a couple times to make it a little less bold - but decided "what the heck!" shortly there after. ;)

I'm actually all for trying to save money when visiting amusement parks - IF it doesn't detract from my visit. The easiest and most effective way to reduce the cost of visiting an amusement park is to find a good deal on admission. On average you can save about $10-$20 per person just by looking around a bit. This way you save money, without taking away from your day.

However, in my mind bringing your food just doesn't save enough money to offset what you’re missing. Maybe it’s just the "completist" part of me, but when I go to a park I like the experience all it has to offer. I feel that if I was always chomping away on the same soggy sandwiches from my trunk's cooler, that I would have missed out on many neat park specialties - fried Oreos, elephant ears, funnel cakes, patch fries, etc.

To me it seems like sacrificing too much, all for little gain.

Safe to say, there's a considerable number of *younger kids* here who really don'T HAVE the money to be able to make those economic "cost/benefit" choices. To me, they mayy even be a bit more *hardcore* for their willingness to drive 1,000 miles for a coaster trip. You get older, you have less TIME free, you have more MONEY to spend, and so you make different decisions. Myself, I've spent WAY more on flights and rental cars and hotels in the last five years or so than I could have EVER imagined even having the ABILITY to spend when I was 20 or 25...

There's nothing WRONG, in my opinion with doing more vacations "on the cheap"...esp. when you're younger and don't have as many OPTIONS....but if you're spending that hard-earned TIME on vacation, DO make sure you get out of it what's important to YOU....no one ELSE can make those kinds of decisions BUT you...;)

Y'all crack me up!

I don't get to visit the 10 or 15 parks per year like some people. I am very lucky to get to go to 3 or 4 per year. BUT that's because when I go I make sure that I take enough green to enjoy the scene. If I don't have 50 or 60 bucks to spend after gas, admission, parking, and possible hotel, then I just save it until I have more. I am still one of those guys who live from payday to payday though.

Durring my one year living in Orlando, I went to parks all of the time with only $10 in my pocket. I legally got into the gates for free one way or another. I went did fast food outside the park for lunch, and IT WAS A BLAST!

So I guess what I am saying is that I agree...with all of y'all.

I fully expect to spend money when I go to a park. IMO, I consider food to be part of the atmosphere. When I visit KW, I usually get Patch fries or a funnel cake and even though its my home park doesn't mean I can slack off in the experience. Sure, I'm past the stage of playing games and buying souvenirs at any park I go too, but my girlfriend and I may play a game just for fun (and try not to get hooked ;) ).

Look,

I just had to plan a vacation with the help of an agent to Universal Orlando.

The whole time we were on the phone she kept saying that there is a Holiday Inn or a Motel 6 across the street from the park. She kept on persisting that it was stupid for us to spend an extra $75-$100 for the Royal Pacific.

To me, the stupid thing to do would be to stay at one of those chain hotels when your on your "official once a year vacation."

The whole point of a vacation is to experience something you don't get to experience everyday and to get away from all of your daily hassles/problems.

There's no point to going on a vacation if all your gonna do is worry about your money the whole time your there.

I, as I'm sure the rest of you do, go on vacation to have fun. Worrying about stupid issues like money definitely detracts from something like that.

For all of you that penny pinch and worry about your money I suggest you save some money and take one trip a year not worrying about money and I definitely think you will enjoy yourself a lot more. You will also realize that saving money isn't the key to vacation, nor is spending it. The key to a vacation is forgetting about the money.

I'm happy with a Motel 6 or whatever. I don't mind a bit of a walk and really, a bed is a bed and you get all the same channels on the TV. Normally I'll be out of the room by 8am and not back for a good 12 hours. I use it to sleep and wash. Does it really need Disney's seal of approval? I'd rather take that saving, and use it for an extra day, which far outways the resort bonuses like getting into the park a bit early or to the front of a few queues.

I'll never bring my own food. I think that's just unnecessary cheapness. I really feel like those people that flee the park around lunchtime for their car so they can enjoy the 3c savings of frozen sandwhiches and watered-down juice from home are really missing something. If not the extra time it takes and the way it stop-starts your day at a park, then the ability to just relax and leave it up to someone else.

My problem with theme park food is that the places I go usually dont' have anything I really like, or can stomach while riding. At PKI last week I ate at their Subway, as I love Subway. I was only @ SFKK for a while, and didn't eat there.

I can see the pros and cons on skimping on some things. I am not a camper, but it was cheaper for me to camp (at PKI's camp ground) for 2 nites than to spend them in a hotel. I'm also camping on next week's CP/GL trip. But I don't mind the camping by myself. I got to sleep, and was at the park when I woke up that morning.

If I were going to Disney, I'd probably stay with family that lived down there. I don't think I'd have any less fun if I were staying at a Motel Six, as I feel too that a bed is a bed. If I do go to IAAPA in Nov., I'm likely to stay a nite or 2 on a property somewhere(possibly Universal?:)). But the rest of the trip is staying with Family partly to visit.

I say do what you can afford, but penny pinching takes away the fun. If you are trying to save money, reserch is your friend. You can most likely find discounted admission anywhere, and depending on where you are going, there is going to be accomodations in your price Range no matter what.